Metric Prefixes

Prefix Abbeviation Meaning Example

Tera-

T

1012 (trillion)

1 terameter (Gm) = 1×1012 m

Giga-

G

109 (billion)

1 gigameter (Gm) = 1×109 m

Mega-

M

106 (million)

1 megameter (Mm) = 1×106 m

Kilo-

k

103 (thousand)

1 kilometer (km) = 1×103m

Deci-

d

10–1 (one tenth)

1 decimeter (dm) = 1×10–1 m

Centi-

c

10–2 (one hundredth)

1 centimeter (cm) = 1×10–2 m

Milli-

m

10–3 (one thousandth)

1 millimeter (mm) = 1×10–3 m

Micro-

μ

10–6 (one millionth)

1 micrometer (μm) = 1×10–6 m

Nano-

n

10–9 (one billionth)

1 nanometer (nm) = 1×10–9 m

Pico-

p

10–12 (one trillionth)

1 picometer (pm) = 1×10–12 m

Femto-

f

10–15

1 femtometer (fm) = 1×10–16 m